Despite warnings of long lines, New Orleans travelers find an easy commute at MSY

Travelers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport found fewer crowds and faster-moving lines than expected

On a day when standing in line for hours and the dangers of missing a flight are almost a given, it was mostly smooth sailing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Wednesday. Despite warnings of long lines and staggering waits, travelers at the New Orleans flight hub were pleasantly surprised at how quickly things moved along on one of the year’s most notoriously busy travel days.

Travelers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Wednesday found quicker lines and shorter waits than expected. Helen Freund, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

“We were told to plan in advance and to be at the airport two hours earlier than our flight, but when we got here we walked through in less than 30 minutes,” said traveler Theresa Slaight, 40. “I could’ve taken my time getting here.”

Airport officials have advised passengers to arrive two hours before their scheduled departures and have warned of longer waits because of heightened security protocols and baggage checks. Travelers were also warned that the airport’s 5,500 parking slots for both short and long-term parking might fill up quicker than usual.

However, while employees at the airport said Wednesday morning saw a fairly large crowd, after the morning rush the airport was almost eerily quiet.

“This year has been steady, but a lot calmer than last year, it’s weird. I think everyone just planned ahead and flew early this time around,” said Ratawan Poompoung, a salesclerk at a newsstand in the airport.

Despite the easy-flowing queues, some airport employees said they would likely see a surge in evening flights resulting from an influx of travelers opting to fly after they got off work, and that people should still try their best to show up as early is possible.

“All of our flights are booked, every single one of them,” a Delta employee said. “It might not be as busy as it was yesterday or this morning, but it’s still the biggest travel day of the year and we’re definitely staying steady.”

Passengers are encouraged to take advantage of checking in online as well as limiting the number of luggage items they carry with them to shorten wait times.